Grade 5 Science Environment – Solid Waste Management Notes

Solid waste is the rubbish we make every day. It includes things like banana peels, food leftovers, plastic bottles, paper, tins and broken toys. In towns and villages in Kenya, solid waste can be from homes, schools, markets, farms and factories.

• Organic (rotten food, garden leaves) 🍌🍃
• Recyclable (paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass, tins) ♻️
• Hazardous (batteries, chemicals, medicines) ⚠️
• Bulky (old furniture, broken appliances) 🪑

• Keep our homes and schools clean and healthy.
• Prevent blocked drains that cause floods during heavy rains.
• Stop spread of diseases like malaria and cholera from dirty places.
• Save resources by recycling and reusing materials.

1. Reduce — Buy only what you need. Avoid many plastic bags and sachets.
2. Reuse — Use glass jars, old clothes or bags again. Make crafts from old boxes.
3. Recycle — Put paper, plastics, tins and glass into a separate container to send to a recycler.
4. Rot / Compost — Turn kitchen and garden waste into compost for planting.

• Do not throw waste in rivers, gutters or open fields.
• Do not burn plastic — it makes harmful smoke.
• Do not mix hazardous waste with normal rubbish.

• Many towns have collection days or county trucks that collect rubbish. Ask your parent or teacher about collection days in your area.
• There are recycling centres and people called waste pickers who collect usable items from dumpsites such as Dandora in Nairobi. We should support safe recycling and keep dumpsites tidy.
• Compost from kitchen waste can be used in farms and gardens to grow vegetables like sukuma wiki and tomatoes.

1. Start a 2-bin system in class: one for organic, one for recyclable. Count what fills each bin every week.
2. Make plant pots from used bottles and sell seedlings to raise money for a school clean-up.
3. Organise a community clean-up day and separate the rubbish collected into the three bins.

You need: a bucket or small bin with holes for water to drain, kitchen scraps (vegetable peels, tea leaves), dry leaves or shredded paper.

1. Put a layer of dry leaves or paper at the bottom.
2. Add a layer of kitchen scraps, then cover with dry material. Repeat layers.
3. Mix every week and keep the bin slightly moist (not wet).
4. In 2–3 months you will have dark, crumbly compost for your garden.

• Always wear gloves when handling waste. Use a mask if the area smells bad.
• Wash your hands with soap after touching rubbish.
• Tell an adult if you find broken glass, needles or chemicals — these are dangerous.

1. Give two examples of organic waste. (Answer: banana peel, vegetable scraps)
2. Why should we not burn plastic? (Answer: It makes harmful smoke that can make people sick.)
3. What are the three bins for in the picture? (Answer: Organic, Recyclable, Hazardous)

• Compost: Rottened plant material used as soil for growing plants.
• Recycle: Turn old materials into new things.
• Hazardous: Dangerous to people or the environment.